2018 Veterans Day Free Activities, Events, & Attractions

Many cities, towns, and municipalities have a Veterans Day ceremony or parade to honor those who have served. I highly recommend attending one of these events if you have the opportunity.

They can be a fun way to meet other veterans, and the experience of being thanked by people you have never met can be humbling.

This page lists a variety of Veterans Day events and attractions for our nation’s servicemembers – past and present. We can’t list every local event. The best place for that information is your local city website or your local media. Instead, we have focused on locations that offer free admission to a larger population.

If you know of any events you’d like to see added here, please use our Contact Page. Priority will be given to those events that have the largest reach. In the meantime, take a look at all of the attractions and events available to you this Veterans Day.

2018 Veterans Day Free & Discounted Activities and Events

Free Parades and Other Events

America’s Parade: America’s Parade is a national parade held in New York City, NY. See the website for more info.

National Veterans Day Ceremony: The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries.

The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. You can find more info on this remarkable event here.

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day Celebrations: Many local VA centers, hospitals, and cemeteries feature a Veterans Day ceremony. Contact your local VA center for more information.

Veterans Day Parades: If you don’t live in one of the cities mentioned above but still want to attend a Veterans Day parade, take a look at VetFriends. VetFriends has a national list of Veterans Day parades (login required).

VetTix – Free Event Tickets for Military and Veterans: VetTix is an excellent organization that offers free tickets to current and former military members to concerts, shows, sporting events and more. You can learn more here.

Aquariums, Zoos, and Wildlife Parks

Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA: Military and veterans receive free admission on November 11. Friends and family will need to buy tickets at your local MWR/ITT office or receive $3 off adult and $1.50 off child admissions by showing a Military ID card at our ticket window. More info can be found on the aquarium’s website.

Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, AL: All veterans, active and retired military, and their dependents with proof of service will receive FREE admission on November 11 – 12, 2018. More info on this promotion is accessible here.

Cincinnati Zoo: Free admission to the Zoo on Memorial Day, July 4 and Veteran’s Day. And current and former military personnel can purchase up to six (6) half-price admission tickets for their immediate family. Military & First Responders – $3 off adults / $2 off child admission. Valid military, fire, or police ID is required to obtain a discount. Tickets must be purchased in person. Find more info on the Zoo’s website.

Nashville Zoo: Nashville Zoo and Regions Bank invite active military personnel, military veterans and their immediate families to receive free admission during Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 11, 2018. In addition to regular Zoo activities, a special children’s fun zone will be set up on Festival Field with bounce houses, games and activities. More info.

Newport Aquarium: Free admission from November 10th to 18th, with ID or proof of service. Family members can receive their military discount of $3 off adult tickets and $2 off child tickets.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Tacoma, WA: Free admission on November 10 – 12, 2018 for all current and former U.S. military members. Immediate family members will receive half-off general admission. More info.

Oregon Zoo: Nov. 11- 12, 2018. Free admission for military veterans and active military personnel and their family members. Families of deployed military personnel also will be given free admission. Additional 10% discount at zoo store and at all food outlets for veterans, active military personnel and their families, with proper identification. More info.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA. Free admission on November 10 – 12 for all current and former U.S. military members. Immediate family members will receive half-off general admission. More info.

Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA: Nov. 11, 2018. Free Admission to all active, retired, and veteran U.S. military personnel and their spouses with valid service identification on Veterans Day. Veterans Day discounts cannot be combined with other offers or zoo discounts. More info.

Free Admission to Museums on Veterans Day

Country Music Hall of Fame: Free admission for all active duty and retired military members and up to 3 immediate family members Nov. 10-12. There will be special, live musical performances and activities during the Veterans Day weekend. More info.

Harley-Davidson Museum®: The Harley-Davidson Museum® is offering free Museum entry for all active Military, Veterans and their families* on November 9-11, 2018. *Free entry with valid Military or Veterans ID for 1 additional adult and up to 4 children 18 years old or younger. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum® website for more information.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum: The National September 11 Memorial & Museum will pay tribute to our country’s veterans during a special five-day Salute to Service from November 7 through November 11, 2018.

A series of events and special programs will be available on the memorial for veterans and their families, as well as the visiting public. Throughout our tribute, veterans will receive free museum admission.

Veterans will also receive half-price museum tickets for up to two family members during the tribute. Ticketing for Salute to Service will be available at a dedicated ticket window at the museum entrance. More information can be found on the National September 11, Memorial & Museum website.

Pro Football Hall of Fame – Free Admission, throughout Nov. 2018: Free Admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for all veterans and active military plus one guest, during the entire month of November. More information.

National Parks & Landmarks

Free Admission for Everyone at US National Parks, Nov. 11, 2018: To honor America’s service men and women, the Secretary of the Interior has announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veterans Day, November 11, 2018. Everyone is eligible, not just veterans. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event.

Colonial Williamsburg: Active duty receives one complimentary admission ticket per year (and as many as three direct dependents). Retired military and Veterans qualify for 50% discount on Single-day tickets or on Annual Passes for up to five direct dependents. Special Veterans Day ceremony. Free admission to all active-duty military, retired, veterans, activated or drilling reservists, National Guard personnel, and up to three direct dependents on Memorial Day Weekend and Veterans Day weekend. November 11, 2018.

Army Corp of Engineers Recreation Areas: Waived day use fees for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families at the more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide on Veterans Day. The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches.

The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters.

Amusement Parks – Free & Discounted Tickets

Anheuser-Busch Parks:

Anheuser-Busch Parks offers Active Duty Service Members free admission for them and up to 3 dependents to any of their parks once a year. Throughout 2018, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission.

The Waves of Honor program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman.

Eligible parks include Adventure Island, Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay or Williamsburg), SeaWorld (Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio), Sesame Place, Water Country USA, or Aquatica SeaWorld’s Waterpark™ in San Diego. Not valid at Discovery Cove. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. There are additional discounts for veterans. Must register in advance. You can obtain your ticket voucher online at the Waves of Honor website.

Knotts Berry Farm:

Knott’s Berry Farm has an annual Military Tribute event in which they offer military members past and present by offering free park admission. This year the Military Tribute Days runs from November 1 – 15 and November 26 – December 21, 2018. Active, Retired or Veteran U.S. Military Personnel may receive free admission for themselves and 1 guest (maximum of 2 complimentary admissions will be issued).

Additional discounted tickets may be purchased at the ticket booth.

Discounted admission tickets are also available for purchase at local military bases. Must present proper ID at Knott’s turnstile (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or Active Military Service ID). More info.

LEGOLAND Florida, Winterhaven, FL:

FREE Admission November 1-30, 2018. For all veterans and active duty military of the U.S. armed forces. Veterans also can purchase theme park tickets for up to six guests at a 50% discount on the same dates. To receive free admission and purchase discounted tickets, veterans must present valid military ID or proof of veteran status at LEGOLAND Florida Resort ticket window on the day of their visit.

Free standard parking is available at LEGOLAND Florida Resort for veterans and active duty military with valid military ID during the month of November.

Active duty members receive free admission year round. Deeply discounted tickets are available at each military base’s Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT) office that include a 2nd day FREE!

Check with your local office on base for pricing. To receive free admission, U.S. veterans must present valid military ID or proof of veteran status at the theme park ticket windows on the day of their visit. This offer is not available online or by phone. More info.

This is a military-only resort located on the Disney World grounds (Shades of Green is open to current military year-round, and veterans during the months of September and January).

World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Ga: Active duty, reserves, and retirees are eligible for free admission year-round. From Thursday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, members of the Armed Forces may purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets for their friends and family. Tickets may be purchased with a valid Armed Forces ID card at the attraction’s ticketing windows. More info.

Even More Veterans Day Savings

To all who served – a simple thank you is never enough. But I’ll say it anyway. Thank you for your service.

Note: We continually update this article each year and republish it with current information. Please contact us if you have any additions or corrections.

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Ryan Guina is the founder and editor of The Military Wallet. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over 6 years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the IL Air National Guard.
Ryan started The Military Wallet in 2007 after separating from active duty military service and has been writing about financial, small business, and military benefits topics since then. He also writes about personal finance and investing at Cash Money Life.
Ryan uses Personal Capital to track and manage his track his finances. Personal Capital is a free software program that allows him to track his net worth, balance his investment portfolio, track his income and expenses, and much more. You can open a free Personal Capital account here.

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